Women In History And Today

CHAPTER 3 WOMEN IN HISTORY AND TODAY An anthology of the Quran prepared by English orientalist, Edward William Lane, published in 1843, carried a foreword that stated that “the fatal point in Islam is the degradation of women .” This ill-considered observation gained currency over the years. If one takes an objective study of the Islamic scriptures, one will conclude that this is contrary to the fact. In almost every inhabited corner of the globe, the societies of ancient times regarded the status of women as being inferior to that of men. Islam set a precedent in human history by granting women equal status and proper rights, which had as far-reaching an effect on the civilization of the times as Western civilization has had on today’s world. While giving women rights, Islam also explained that there are apparent differences between men and women. The difference between the sexes can be compared to the